{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&Type=Press Release&ContentRecord_id=76d491e0-afcd-0683-f7fc-7b93e920a82b", "Senators Burr, Casey, and Fellow Supporters Urge Passage of ABLE Act", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Burr", "B001135", "www.burr.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.20.13\n\t\t\t Senators Burr, Casey, and Fellow Supporters Urge Passage of ABLE Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t \r\nWith more than half of the United States Congress supporting the\r\nAchieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act - S. 313/H.R. 647), U.S.\r\nSenators Richard Burr (R-NC), Robert Casey (D-PA), and a bipartisan, bicameral\r\ngroup of bill co-sponsors and supporters called on Congress to pass the ABLE\r\nAct and provide an improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities\r\nthrough tax-free savings accounts.\r\n\r\n\r\nIntroduced in the 113th Congress in February, the ABLE Act has\r\nearned 50 Senate co-sponsors, 305 House co-sponsors, and is backed by more than\r\n50 local, state, and national disability advocacy groups, including the\r\nNational Down Syndrome Society, Autism Speaks, and The Arc.\r\n\r\n\r\nBurr, the lead Republican sponsor in the Senate, said: \"The\r\nABLE Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that provides individuals with\r\ndisabilities and their families with the resources to plan for a sound\r\nfinancial future while continuing to improve the quality of their lives\r\ntoday. I am pleased to see such overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral\r\nsupport for this important bill and look forward to its consideration in the\r\nSenate.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nCasey, the lead Democratic sponsor in the Senate, said:\r\n\"The\r\nABLE Act is commonsense bipartisan legislation that will help make it easier\r\nfor those families to save for their children's future care, and we should pass\r\nit immediately. Individuals with disabilities and their families face\r\nchallenges many of us can't even begin to imagine. They deserve some\r\nassurance that they will be able to adequately plan for expenses. \"\r\n\r\n\r\nCongressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) said: \"Support\r\nfor tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities stands at its\r\nhighest level ever - testament to the tireless dedication of those who\r\nbelieve that ALL Americans deserve equality when it comes to financial planning\r\ntools. It's time to pass this legislation and create a brighter future for\r\nthose in need. \"\r\n\r\n\r\nCongressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) said: \"The\r\nsupport we've seen in the 113th Congress for the ABLE Act is encouraging, and I\r\nwill continue to work with my colleagues on moving this important legislation\r\nforward. As the father of a young man with Down syndrome, I am committed to\r\nfinding ways to enhance the quality of life and maximize the potential for all\r\nindividuals with disabilities. I strongly believe that allowing families to\r\nform tax-free savings accounts to cover certain expenses like education and\r\nhousing will create a brighter future for our loved ones with disabilities.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nCongressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said: \"With\r\n305 Members of the House of Representatives co-sponsoring the bipartisan ABLE\r\nAct, the time for action is now. This legislation will give people with\r\ndisabilities and their families the opportunity to take charge of their own\r\nlives and their futures. We live in a nation where everyone has the right to\r\nreach for their full potential. The ABLE Act is a commonsense step forward for\r\nthese hardworking Americans.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nCongresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodger (R-WA) said: \"As\r\nthe mom of a son with Down syndrome, I know that too often, federal policies\r\nlimit those with disabilities and make them dependent on the government.\r\nWhen my son Cole was born, my husband and I were advised not to put any assets\r\nin Cole's name because it would penalize him if he needed to qualify for a\r\ngovernment program someday. There are millions of other parents in the\r\nsame situation - parents who would like to help their children improve their\r\nquality of life without jeopardizing their access to benefits. That's why\r\nwe must pass the ABLE Act. This commonsense bill would allow parents to\r\nsave for their children's future and give kids with disabilities a chance to\r\nlive the American Dream. I hope Congress acts swiftly to pass this\r\nlegislation and get it to the President's desk.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nSara Weir, National Down Syndrome Society Vice President of\r\nAdvocacy & Affiliate Relations, said: \"There is no other\r\nbill in the U.S. Congress that has as much bipartisan, bicameral support as the\r\nABLE Act. People with disabilities can't wait any longer for the passage of the\r\nABLE Act. Passing this landmark legislation will go a long way to help people\r\nwith Down syndrome and other disabilities realize and achieve their own hopes,\r\ndreams, and aspirations.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nStuart Spielman, Senior Policy Advisory and Counsel for Autism\r\nSpeaks, said: \"In the next 10 years, a half-million children with autism will\r\nage into adulthood. The staggering level of housing, transportation, and other\r\nsupport services that will be required for this population demand common sense\r\nsolutions such as ABLE.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nMarty Ford, Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy, The Arc,\r\nsaid: \"The Arc has long supported the ABLE Act, and we will continue to\r\nstand behind this important piece of legislation until it is finally\r\npassed. This bill will give individuals with intellectual and\r\ndevelopmental disabilities and their families a planning tool that can guide\r\ntheir path to financial security. Most importantly, it does so without jeopardizing\r\ntheir access to other necessary services provided by federal programs.\r\nWith more than half of Congress supporting this bill, we are hopeful that the\r\n113th Congress will pass the ABLE Act so that people with disabilities and\r\ntheir families can begin using this important tool.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nThe legislation would amend Section 529 of the Internal Revenue\r\nService Code to 1986 to create tax-free savings accounts for individuals with\r\ndisabilities. The bill, first introduced in 2006, would ease financial strains\r\nfaced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-free savings accounts\r\navailable to cover qualified expenses such as education, housing, medical, and\r\ntransportation. The bill would supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided\r\nthrough private insurance, the Medicaid program, the beneficiary's employment,\r\nand other sources.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&Type=Press Release&ContentRecord_id=76d491e0-afcd-0683-f7fc-7b93e920a82b"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5373758506029844, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}